Device for measuring flow rates of powdery and granular materials

ABSTRACT

A method of measuring the flow rates of powdery and granular materials which comprises allowing a powdery or granular material to drop naturally by gravity from a certain height onto a detecting plate and then measuring the horizontal component of the force given to said plate as an impact load, and instruments for practicing the method.

United States Patent Tomiyasu et all.

[ 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] DEVICE FOR MEASURING FLOW RATES OF POWDERY ANDGRANULAR MATERIALS [72] Inventors: Hiroshi Tomiyasu; Tsuguya lnagaki,both of No, 162-2, Nagao, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken; Hiroshi Kajiura,No. 22-7, 2-chome, Nishiazabu, Tokyo; Kinnosuke Watanabe, No. 194841,Hosoyama, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken, all of Japan 221 Filed: Oct. 10,1968 21 Appl.N0.: 766,515

[52] US. Cl ..73/228 [51] Int. Cl. .Golf 1/00 [58] Field of Search..73/228 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,401,299 12/1921Wohlenberg ..73/228 3,232,486 2/l966 Ofner ..73/228X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 804,211 ll/I958 Great Britain ..73/228 PrimaryExaminer-.Ierry W. Myracle Attorney-Steinberg & Blake [57] I ABSTRACT Amethod of measuring the flow rates of powdery and granular materialswhich comprises allowing a powdery or granular material to dropnaturally by gravity from a certain height onto a detecting plate andthen measuring the horizontal component of the force given to said plateas an impact load, and instruments for practicing the method.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR MEASURING FLOW RATES OF POWDERYAND GRANULAR MATERIALS This invention relates to a method of measuringthe flow rates of powdery and granular materials and instrumentstherefor.

A principal object of the invention is to permit flow measurement withextreme accuracy. Another important object is to provide instruments ofthis type which are easily embodied and function accurately andreliably.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bebetter understood from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an impact flow meter of the type knownin the art for measuring the flow rates of powdery and granularmaterials;

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatic views of one embodiment of the invention, Abeing a front elevational view and B a top plan view; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a second embodimentof the invention.

The present invention is characterized in that the horizontal impactload rather than the vertical component of the load of a naturallydropped mass against a detecting plate is taken out and determined.

Conventional impact flow meter, as shown in FIG. I, is so constructedthat a powdery of granular material naturally dropped from a feed means1 hits against a detecting plate 2 before it flows further downward, andthe resulting impact load, or vertical load, is converted into adisplacement of a beam 9 that is supported by a fulcrum 4, through aspring 5 and a differential transformer 6, and the amount ofdisplacement in turn is converted into an electrical signal, which issubsequently amplified by an amplifier 7 for easier measurement.Therefore, any bit of the powdery or granular material stuck anddeposited on the detecting plate 2 would give an effect as if the impactload has increased, thus producing an error accordingly in the measuredvalue.

In view of this, the method and instrument for impact flow measurementin accordance with the present invention preclude the possibility of anysolid deposit being measured erroneously as part of the flow rate.

For the practice of the present invention two preferred embodiments willbe described hereunder.

To illustrate the first embodiment by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, specifically to FIG. 2, a beam 9 which carries a detectingplate 2 is supported by a fulcrum 8, and the detecting plate 2 isprovided with an inclination parallel to the beam and made horizontalcomponent of force of impact load against the detecting plate 2 can beconverted into a displacement, which in turn is converted into anelectrical signal through a spring 5 and a differential transformer 6both provided horizontally, and subsequently the electrical signal isfed to an amplifier 7.

With such construction, only the horizontal component of the forceapplied as impact load against the detecting plate is measured. Sinceany deposit of powdery or granular material on the detecting plate willnot produce any error in the reading, the flow rate of the subjectmaterial can be measured with a very high degree of accuracy.

The second embodiment is designed to measure the component of forcegiven in the longitudinal direction of the beam by a powdery or granularmaterial allowed to drop by gravity onto the detecting plate which isprovided on the beam with an inclination with respect to the supportingbeam. Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the beam is equipped with thedetecting plate b diagonally at one end thereof and is made horizontallymovable by means of a spring d provided at the other end and of journalsg provided intermediate of its length. As a flow force which is exertedupon the beam c depending u on the momentum of the impac against thedetecting plate. is displacement of the beam is transmitted through thespring and a differential transformer e to an amplifier f where it isconverted into an electrical signal which in turn gives a reading of themeasured value of the flow rate.

With this embodiment an extremely accurate measurement of flow'rate ismade possible because here again any sticking and deposition of powderyorgranular material on the detecting plate cannot cause an error inmeasurement.

It is apparent from the above description that with the presentinvention the inclined detecting plate has its upwardly directed surfaceinclined both with respect to horizontal and vertical axes, so that whenthe falling material engages the detecting plate a horizontal componentof force will be produced. The beam of each embodiment forms a carriermeans carrying the detecting plate while each embodiment includes asupport means supporting the carrier means only for movement in ahorizontal plane. Thus, in the case of FIG. 2, the pivot 8 forms asupport means supporting the beam or carrier means only for movementabout a vertical axis so that the carrier means remains at all times ina given horizontal plane. In the case of FIG. 3, the bearings g form asupport means supporting the beam or carrier means only for longitudinalmovement while it remains in the same horizontal plane. The spring 5 ofFIG. 2 and the spring d of FIG. 3 form a means yieldably opposing themovement of the carrier means in a horizontal plane, and thedifierential transfonner of each embodiment forms a measuring means formeasuring the extent of movement of the carrier means in the horizontalplane.

We claim:

1. In a device for measuring the flow of granular material, a detectingplate having an upwardly directed surface inclined both with respect tohorizontal and vertical directions so that granular material fallingonto said surface will provide a horizontal component of force on saiddetecting plate, carrier means carrying said plate, said carrier meansbeing in the form of an elongated beam having a free end carrying saiddetecting plate, support means supporting said carrier means formovement only in a horizontal plane, said support means being located inits entirety along said beam only to one side of and spaced from saiddetecting plate, means yieldably opposing movement of said carrier meansin said horizontal plane, and measuring means operatively connected,with said carrier means for measuring the extent of movement thereof insaid horizontal plane in response to the magnitude of said horizontalcomponent.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means supportssaid beam for horizontal movement about a vertical axis.

3. The combination of claim 2 said support means including a verticalpivot which supports said beam for swinging movement in said horizontalplane about said vertical axis.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means supportssaid beam for longitudinal movement in said horizontal plane.

5. The combination of claim 4 said support means including bearingsengaging said beam and supporting the latter only for longitudinalmovement.

6. The combination of claim l and wherein said means opposing movementof said carrier means is in the form of a spring.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said measuring means is in theform of a differential transformer.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means supportssaid beam for horizontal movement about a vertical axis.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 said support means including a vertical pivotwhich supports said beam for swinging movement in said horizontal planeabout saId vertical axis.
 4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein saidsupport means supports said beam for longitudinal movement in saidhorizontal plane.
 5. The combination of claim 4 said support meansincluding bearings engaging said beam and supporting the latter only forlongitudinal movement.
 6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein saidmeans opposing movement of said carrier means is in the form of aspring.
 7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said measuring meansis in the form of a differential transformer.